Packaging for Ready-to-Use Compound Products with a Device for Sequential and Suitably Deferrable Integration of Components

ABSTRACT

Packaging for ready-to-use compound products which consists of a container ( 1 ) open in the upper part, a dispenser ( 11 ) and an element ( 21 ) which define an inner compartment ( 18 ) for a first component of the product and other inner compartments ( 23, 24 ) for other components of the product. The container ( 1 ) is closed by a film ( 17 ) which is adhered to the flanged edge ( 3 ) of the lateral wall ( 2 ) of the container ( 1 ); the compartment ( 23 ) is closed by means of the sliding element ( 21 ) which defines, at the same time, the compartment ( 24 ), closed by the same closure element ( 17 ) of the container ( 1 ) or by an independent closure element, the compartment ( 24 ) can be provided with. When the other inner compartments ( 23, 24 ) are closed it is impossible that their content mixes with the content of the inner compartment ( 18 ). Acting suitably on the mobile base ( 12 ) of the dispenser ( 11 ) and on the element ( 21 ), it is possible to open the other inner compartments ( 23, 24 ) to allow the components contained in said compartments to pass into the main compartment ( 18 ) via the windows ( 14, 15 ) of the lateral wall ( 13 ) of the dispenser ( 11 ), in sequential and suitably deferrable mode.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention regards the field of packagings for containingproducts composed of at least three components to be kept separately upto the moment of usage and, particularly the sector of packagings forcontaining food products. For demonstration scopes, the invention may beused to realise the coating of meat, fish or vegetables with breadcrumbs or flour mixture for further cooking.

THE STATE OF THE ART

As far as the food products is concerned, different types of packagingsare known nowadays. Mostly, these packagings contain bags with mix forbread crumbs and shaker bags in which the products to be coated withbread crumbs and the mix mentioned before are introduced and shakedtogether.

The disadvantages connected to the use of such packagings are numerous:it is necessary to get and use an additional fluid ingredient (oil, eggsetc.), which is often necessary to veil preventionally the product inorder to realize a better adherence of the bread coating; while openingthe bags mentioned before it is possible to pour out occasionally itscontent; as the bag is flexible, its walls, humidified by contact with afood product and/or with the said additional fluid, may tend to adheremaking the bread coating introduction more difficult; it is necessary toassure an adequate closure of the bag to avoid the leak of product andbread coating, especially in the shaking phase; it is necessary topreview, furtherly to the avoiding of exceeding bread coating and beforethe baking, an operation which like all the previous operations conductsto getting dirty hands, dishes and different utensiles withoutincreasing much the practicity of cooking.

So, the object of the present invention is to make available a packagingwhich allows mainly to:

-   -   keep opportunely separated the components of the product up to        the moment of their usage;    -   mix the different components of the product in a practical,        hygenic and efficient manner, as well as in sequential and        suitably deferrable mode;    -   keep in a special bay the excess of some components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 a view of one embodiment of the packaging in absonometricalsection;

FIG. 2 vertical section of the container (1) of FIG. 1 with dispenser(11) and element (21) present and closed inner compartments (18, 23,24);

FIG. 3 a vertical section of packaging of FIG. 1, with the mobile base(12) pushed inside up to the stop point, with the activation of thesufficiently stable hook between clutches (19, 22) and with the relatedopening of the windows (14) of the lateral wall (13) of the dispenser(11);

FIG. 3 b vertical section of the packaging embodiment, in which thehorns (30) acted to interfere with the edges (31) of the windows of thelateral wall (13) of the dispenser (11) are present on the element (21).

FIG. 4 vertical section of the container (1) of FIG. 1 with the mobilebase (12) described in the initial position with related pulling of theelement (21) towards the bottom of the container (1), which is possiblebecause of sufficiently stable hook between clutches (19, 22), andconsequent opening of the windows (15) of the lateral wall (13) of thedispenser (11).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

With reference to FIG. 1, the packaging is constituted by a container(1), provided with a lateral wall (2) which terminates with an edge (3),and by a base (4), partially holed and closed in the bottom by a film(5), generally of plastic material, joined by means of thermowelding orsome other available technique to the flat surface (6) of inferiorrelieved edge (7). Said inferior relieved edge (7) and said film (5)concur to delimit, on the part of the base surface (4) opposite to theopening of the container (1), a bay (8) in correspondence of the holedpart and a further separated bay (9) in correspondence of the solidpart, in which different accessories, not shown here, can be located(absorbing paper, pliers for baked products, etc.) and in which thefilming that closes said bay (9) keeping said accessories, can beuncoupled without removing the part of the film which closes the bay (8)corresponding to the holed portion.

In the base surface (4) of said container (1) a hole (10) is made. Onsaid hole the dispenser (11), constituted by a lateral wall (13) inwhich the windows (14, 15) are opening is introduced. The lateral wall(13) terminates with a flanged edge (16) on which, at the end of thepackaging, the same upper-sealing film (17) which closes the container(1) in correspondence of its flanged edge (3) is made adhere.

The container (1) and the dispenser (11) define the main compartment(18).

In the dispenser (11) a mobile base (12) is present. On its innerconcave part a clutch (19) is placed and in its correspondence, on theconvex side, a button-handle (20) is placed, which function will beexplained later.

Inside the dispenser (11) the element (21) is placed. From its base aclutch (22), complementary to the clutch (19) starts. Said clutch isplaced on the mobile base (12) of the dispenser (11), to which it jointsin a particular phase of packaging usage, as it will be clear below.

After the introduction of the element (21) in the dispenser (11) in thislatter a compartment (23) is defined in which the component, normallyfluid, is placed which is first to be united with the product present inthe main compartment (18).

The element (21) defines, on its turn, a compartment (24) which shouldcontain, for instance, the bread crumbs.

In FIG. 2 a section of the packaging, in which, going up from thebottom, the following pieces are represented:

-   -   the sealing film (5);    -   the external bay (9), in which it is possible to place different        accessories (absorbing paper, pliers for baked products, etc.)        and in which correspondence the sealing film (5) is removable;    -   the external bay (8), permanently closed by the resting part of        the sealing film (5), in which, through the holes of the base        surface (4) of the container (1), it is possible to collect the        bread crumbs in excess;    -   the main compartment (18), containing the product to be coated        with bread crumbs;    -   the dispenser (11) keyed in the hole (10) and in the relative        compartment (23) containing the fluid component;    -   the element (21) and the correspondent compartment (24)        containing the bread crumbs;    -   the superior sealing film (17) which closes the compartments        (18) and (24) adhering respectively to the flanged edges (3) and        (16).

In a packaging phase, the dispenser (11) is inserted, by means of asealed joint, into the hole (10) of the base surface (4) of thecontainer (1), while in other embodiments of the invention it is stillpossible to realize the dispenser (11) directly in a unique block withthe container (1), or insert it into the container (1), in phase ofusage, by means of a coupling hole (10).

Furtherly a component (normally fluid) for the compartment (23) isintroduced and after that it passes to place the element (21) pushingit, as necessary, inside the dispenser (11). The ribs (25, 26), presenton the lateral wall of the element (21), interfering with thecorresponding horns (27, 28) opportunely realized inside the lateralwall (13) of the dispenser (11), stabilize inside the dispenser (11),the position of the element (21), isolating, in addition, each of thecompartments (23, 24) defined in said dispenser.

So, the compartment (24) is filled and finally the container (1) issealed by the film (17) adhered in the same time, by means ofthermowelding or other known technique, to the flanged edge (3) of thecontainer (1) and to the flanged edge (16) of the dispenser (11).

In FIG. 3 a the section of the packaging according to one particularapplication, when, in the usage phase the mobile base (12) together withthe element (21) is completely pushed by the user inside the packaging,discovering, without opening before the packaging itself, the windows(14) of the lateral wall (13) of the dispenser (11), capable to makecommunicate the compartments (23) and (18) is shown. The use previewsthat in this phase the packaging should be put upside down on a rigidplain to assure that when the pressure applied by the user to the mobilebase (12) is transmitted to the sliding element (21) this latter can notmove over some certain position which in this case is the position inwhich the superior edge (29) of the compartment (24) meets the saidrigid plain. This is to assure that in this phase the clutch (19)couples in a sufficiently stable way with the complementary clutch (22).Said coupling can also be realized as it is shown in FIG. 3 b.

In this embodiment, the horns (30), present on the lateral wall of thesliding element (21), interfere with the edge (31) of the windows (15)of the lateral wall (13) of the dispenser (11), assuring (for the samescope as described in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 a) that saidsliding element (21) can not move over the position delimited by thisinterference.

So, the usage of the packaging previews that the same is shaked to allowthat the component leaked out of the compartment (23) mixes with theproduct contained in the compartment (18).

FIG. 4 shows how, using the hooking between the complementary clutches(19, 22), is possible, pulling the button-handle (20) placed on themobile base (12), to push in the same direction the element (21) too.Acting so, the opening of the windows (15) of the lateral wall (13) ofthe dispenser (11) is determined, so that by overturning and shaking thepackaging, the component of the compartment (24) may pass into thecompartment (18) and complete the product preparation.

Putting upside down and shaking another bit the packaging, the breadcrumbs in excess will pass into the bay (8) through the holed part ofthe base surface (4).

Once the container (1) is open, it will be possible to pour out theproduct, for example, in a pot, from the side (32) specificallypreviewed. During this operation the band (33) of the base surface (4)will obstacle the excess of bread crumbs in the bay (8) to pass out ofthe said bay when the container will be inclined enough to allow to pourout the product.

The absorbing paper, present in the bay (9) and not shown here, can beopportunely conformed to be supported by the emptied container (1), inorder to be able to use it for dripping the fried product, using also,for a better result, the presence of the holed portion of the basesurface (4).

Other embodiments may preview that the mobile base (12) inside thedispenser (11) is also sliding.

In one of these further embodiments the mobile base (12) and the element(21) can be joined forming a piston which moves inside the dispenser(11).

In this embodiment the mobile base (12) is inserted, the compartment(23) is filled, the element (21) is inserted, the compartment (24) isfilled. This latter is provided not only by the superior opening, inthis case closed by a proper autonomous closure element, but also bylateral openings, temporarily closed by the portions of the wall (13) ofthe dispenser (11) with which said lateral openings contact.

In the usage phase the mobile base (12) is pushed and, opening thewindows (14), the compartment (23) communicates with the compartment(18), to proceed to the scattering of the liquid content into thecompartment (23) on the product contained in the compartment (18). Afterthat, by pressing on the autonomous closure element up to makingcoincide said lateral openings of the compartment (24) with the openings(15) of the dispenser (11), the compartment (24) communicates with thecompartment (18), to proceed to the definitive coating of the productwith bread crumbs.

The invention, certainly, is not limited, to the representation of thefigures, but can receive perfections and modifications from men skilledin the art, without going out of the patent frames.

Present invention permits numerous advantages and, particularly, allowsto overcome the difficulties that could not be surmounted using thesystems that are actually in commerce.

1. A packaging for ready-to-use compound products, with device forsequential and suitably deferrable integration of the components,constituted by a container open in the upper part, provided with a baseand with a lateral wall which terminates with an edge, and by adispenser, provided with a lateral wall too which terminates with anedge and with a mobile base, which define the first inner compartment tocontain the first component of the product, characterized by the factthat: said edge of said container and said edge of said dispenser areacted to associate themselves to the superior closure element, saidlateral wall of said dispenser is provided with windows, one element isinserted in a sliding mode inside said dispenser defining both an innercompartment for a second component of the product, together with themobile base of said dispenser, and at least one further innercompartments for respective at least one further components of theproduct, said base and said element are maneuverable from the outside,opportunely acting on the mobile base and on the element, this lattercan be moved along a determined direction inside the dispenser up toopen at least one said windows of said lateral wall of the dispenser,allowing, so, the passage into the compartment itself of the component/sof the inner compartment/s communicating with the same said innercompartment by means of said window/s opened in this phase, the elementcan be moved in the opposite direction inside the dispenser to open thewindows that remained closed in the previous phase, allowing the passageinto the compartment itself, of the component/s of the innercompartment/s communicating with the same said inner compartment bymeans of said window/s opened in this phase.
 2. A packaging forready-to-use compound products, according to the claim 1, characterizedby the fact that said mobile base and said element have, respectively, aclutch and a complementary clutch acted to couple in a stable mode.
 3. Apackaging for ready-to-use compound products, according to claim 1,characterized by the fact that said mobile base is provided with abutton-handle to press or pull.
 4. A packaging for ready-to-use compoundproducts, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that saidcontainer and said dispenser are realised as a unique piece.
 5. Apackaging for ready-to-use compound products, according to claim 1,characterized by the fact that said container and said dispenser arerealized as separated and subsequently assemblable pieces and that saidcontainer presents a hole on its said base, acted to allow a stableclutch of the dispenser.
 6. A packaging for ready-to-use compoundproducts, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that theelement presents the horns acted to interfere with the edges of thewindows, in order to assure that the element can not move over theposition defined by such interferences.
 7. A packaging for ready-to-usecompound products, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact thatribs, opportunely placed on the element, interfere with thecorresponding horns present inside the lateral wall of the dispenser,stabilizing inside the dispenser, the position of the element, andisolating, in addition, each of the compartment defined in saiddispenser.
 8. A packaging for ready-to-use compound products, accordingto claim 1, characterized by the fact that said base of said containerpresents a hole in its entire surface or only in its part.
 9. Apackaging for ready-to-use compound products, according to claim 1,characterized by the fact that said base of said container presents arelieved edge, on the opposite side inside the packaging which definesone or more than one external compartments.
 10. A packaging forready-to-use compound products, according to claim 9, characterized bythe fact that in said external compartments the accessories for usage orpreparation of the product can be placed.
 11. A packaging forready-to-use compound products, according to claim 9, characterized bythe fact that said relieved edge is acted to associate itself to aninferior closure element.
 12. A packaging for ready-to-use compoundproducts, according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that saidinferior closure element can be removed only in correspondence of theexternal compartment/s to the hole and, anyway, to the non-holed part ofthe base.
 13. A packaging for ready-to-use compound products, accordingto claim 9, characterized by the fact that the external compartmentcorresponding to the holed portion of the base of the container is actedto keep inside an excess of components of the product, resulting fromthe preparation of said product in said packaging and that the band ofthe base surface obstacles the excess of components in the bay, to passout of the said bay, when the container will be inclined enough to allowto pour out the product.
 14. A packaging for ready-to-use compoundproducts, according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that saidelement is provided with an autonomous superior closure element comparedto the superior closure element of the container.
 15. A packaging forready-to-use compound products, according to claim 1, characterized bythe fact that said elements of superior closure of the container and ofthe element, as well as those of inferior closure of the externalcompartments, are constituted by a film of plastic material.